The first all-South African surf final on a world tour since 1984 saw veteran Jordy Smith (37) match-up against Matt McGillivray (28) in El Salvador this past weekend. The right-hand point break at Punta Roca has been likened to a ‘mini-J-Bay,’ so it’s no surprise that both Jeffrey’s Bay residents made all their heats. And after a superb run through the competition, it was a historic all-South African surf final, contested on Saturday 14 April 2025, that had the rest of the world engrossed.
ALL-SOUTH AFRICAN SURF FINAL
17-year world tour veteran Jordy Smith had to beat world number one Italo Ferreira and in-form Leo Fioravanti on his way to the final. Likewise, up-and-coming McGillivray had to dispose of Brazilian phenom Yago Dora and California’s Griffin Colapinto to set up the unlikely all-South African surf final. But it was the wily Smith who dominated the final by laying down two high-scoring waves early and then closing out the contest. Unbelievably, Smith’s last tour win was in 2017, ending a seven-year drought. In contrast, Punta Roca was McGillivray’s first appearance in a WSL Championship Tour final and will stand him in good stead for the future.
Back on dry land, the true enormity of the all-South African surf final began to sink in. There was an emotional moment when the ‘San Clemente crew’ – made up of young hot-shot surfers Cole Houshmand and the Colapinto brothers – raised Smith onto their shoulders for the traditional victory lap. Moreover, the entire ‘crew’ were knocked out of the competition by Smith and McGillivray. So, for them to stick around to watch and celebrate the all-South African surf final was a tremendous display of sportsmanship.
‘AUSSIE TREBLE’ LOADING
Best of all for the two South Africans, they can take this well-earned momentum into the next critical events. The WSL tour moves from Central America directly to Australia for the ‘treble,’ starting this weekend – April 18-28 2025 at Bell’s Beach, Victoria. Two more back-to-back contests take in the Gold Coast and Margret River, Western Australia. And each break suits Smith and McGillivray’s powerful front-side style.
Smith rocketed up to number five in the WSL world rankings after victory this weekend. And McGillivray moves up to 13th, which should keep him above the ‘mid-season cut’ that sees half the men’s field off the tour after the Australian leg.
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